The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-05-06

The clerk III / q. house has received eigh,
packages Of the testimony In tie contested
election ease of Lowry against White from
the Twelfth Indiana district-twO for the
contestant and six for the contestee. In the
ease OF Lynch against vanderyeer, sixth
California, the only testimony received Is
one package for the contestant. In the case
Of SmalIs against Elliott, both colored, frOm
the Seventh South Carolina district, there
have been received eleven packages OF testl-
mony for the contestant and eight for the
c0ntestee. Evidence In the case OF Worth
ington against Post, Tenth Illinois district,
seems TO be evenly divided. for there are
four packages of testimony for each party
In the cases of Theobe against Carlisle
(Sixth Kentucky, Frank against Grover
Ninth Missourl), and Mcdonald against
FELTON, Fifth California;, no notice of con-
test or testimony has been received by the
clerk OF the House. Four New York seats and
one Rhode Island seat In the fiftieth con-
yress have not yet been filled.
UNCLE SAM is CAUGHT.
The government has Run up against the
interstate commerce bill. Commissioner
Atkins advertised for bids for supplies for
the Indians, and last week went out to st.
Louis to open the proposals and award the
contracts. 1t was found that all the bids
were very much higher than they eyer were
before for the same articles, and that the
appropriations OF congress were not sufiici-
emit to make the necessary purchases. The
contractors explained that under the long
and short haul clause of the Interstate COM
merce bill the cost of transportation was ut
least 100 and i'll some cases 500 per cent.
greater than Ii ever was before, as the rail-
way companies charged them local rates for
the longest distances. The commissioner OF
Indian affairs telegraphed to the secretary
OF the interior, who conferred with the inter-
state commerce commission AMI got ru!-
ing under which the railroad companies
NIB oil fnpf ar lA Of
the government in the transportation of In
dian supplies. But they refused to do so.
They refused to make fish of the public and
flesh of the government, and the contractors
had to stick to their original figures. The
commissioner therefore had to decline all
the proposals as being excessive, and returned
to Washington disguised. He will readver-
tise and try 1t again. 1t is understood that
there will be a general remonstrance entered
by mercantile associations all over the
to discriminate In favor OF government con-
tractors for 1t would open the way to fraud.
THE FISHERIES DISPUTE.
1t 10 officially stated that Lord Salisbury,
In recent dispatch, said that the British
government, understanding the action of
the United States in denOuncing the fishery
articles of the treaty of Washington to be,
in great degree. the result OF disappOint-
ment in being called upon to pay FL, 100 600
under the Halifax fisheries award, offers to
revert to the old condition of affairs without
pecuniary indemnity, which offer, it trusts,
will commend itself to the American gov
eminent as being based upon that spirit of
good will and generosity which should ami
mate two great and kindred nations whose
common origin, language, and institutions
constitute as many bonds OF amity and con-
cord.
The secretary declines to either confirm or
deny the statement. Secretary Bayard also
declines to express any opinion with regard
to the suDject-matter OF the dispatches as
cabled.
The subject-matter of the dispatch is not
exactly news in diplomatic circles, the same
proposition having emanated from u Cana
dian source some time ago. Well-informed
persons incline to the opinion that the offer
referred to in the cablegram has been thus
indirectly and unoflicially made as a "feeler,"
to ascertain in advance OF an actual tender
how such q proposition would be received
by the Anne lean people.
AS the representatives of the United
States on the commission that negotiated
the treaty OF Washington and the Halifax
commission which fixed the award made to
England for the use OF the Canadian inshore
fisheries expressly denied that the privilege
accorded to the United States vessels of
fishing In Canadian waters was more valu-
able than the concession made to Canadian
fishermen of a like privilege in waters of
the United STATES and free entry of their
of state never entertained the idea of re-
newing the treaty of Washington with the
understanding that a cash indemnity was
again to be paid Great Britain for the right
to enjoy the in-shore fisheries of Canada.
Secretary Bayard said that he was glad to
note the increasing interest manifested in
the subject. He felt that the people of the
country outside of Massachusetts had never
realized the Importance or appreciated the
gravity of the alternative LETT the admins
Irrational declaration Of nOne-intercourse-
il 1t failed to effect o peaceable adjustment
of the differences between the United States
and Britain respecting the construction Of
the treaty rights of our fishermen. 1t Is
doubtful, lie said, il the interests of San Fran
cisco in maintaining her present source OF
coal supply from British Columbia. aside
from tile Importance of the great Chicago
business connections with Canada, and of the
vast trade that GIBBS and flows across the three
thousand miles of our northern boundary
do not exceed the interests OF Massachusetts
In the results OF the application of such an
alternative as commercial nOn-intercOurse.
The negotiations with Great Britain on this
subject are progressing, and the secretary
hopes that they will result In q harmonious
and satisfactory understanding between that
country and the United States.